As Nottingham Forest fight for Premier League survival, debate rages about whether the got things right in the transfer market.
The impact of those arrivals from the past two windows has certainly been mixed, although a proper judgement can only really be made once this season is over and the Reds' fate has been decided. Weighing up the success of signings is not a new argument, though.
Forest have had a fair few misses on that front down the years. Whether it be because their spells Trentside were blink-and-you’ll-miss-them short or because they’ve been consigned to the deepest reaches of the memory bank for all the wrong reasons, we’ve picked out a few who you might have forgotten even pulled on the Garibaldi.
READ MORE: Forest predicted XI to face Manchester United
READ MORE: Forest injury state of play ahead of Man United showdown
Jordi Osei-Tutu
Most fans will be able to reel off last season’s promotion-winning squad at the drop of a hat - that group earned themselves legendary status, after all. But what might be forgotten, even though it wasn't too long ago, is that Forest started the 2021/22 campaign having brought in Osei-Tutu as one of their full-back options.
However, the Arsenal loanee suffered terrible luck with injuries and managed just four run-outs, never really getting the chance to show what he can do. His deal was ended early, in the January.
Having recovered from a hamstring issue, he spent the second half of 2021/22 at Rotherham. The 24-year-old then left the Gunners in the summer, returning to German outfit VfL Bochum - where he had previously had a successful loan spell - on a permanent basis.
Abdoulaye Diallo
Does it count if a player pulled on the shirt but never actually played for the club? We’ll take it.
The goalkeeper was signed while Sabri Lamouchi was still in charge, in September 2020. He penned a one-year deal when he joined, with the option for a further 12 months beyond that - but it never seemed likely the Reds would take that up.
Injury troubles didn’t help, although he was described as struggling to catch a cold by one observer. And while he did turn out for the Under-23s, he never got on the pitch for the first-team. The closest he came was being named on the substitutes’ bench for a 2-0 defeat at home to Norwich City - the only time he was included in a match squad.
Was without a club for a spell after leaving the City Ground. Is now at Nancy, but continues to struggle for game time.
Ashkan Dejagah
The midfielder was one of six January deadline day signings made by Aitor Karanka in 2018. But while Costel Pantilimon, Joe Lolley, Lee Tomlin, Jack Colback and Adlene Guedioura would all go on to play their part for the club, to varying degrees, Dejagah featured just once.
His sole appearance was as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat at Fulham in the February. Later that month, he suffered a knee injury in training which required surgery and ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.
Having only penned a short-term contract until the end of the season, he moved on in the summer. Had a spell at Qatari outfit Al Shahania in between stints at Iranian sides Tractor Sazi and Foolad, and is still plying his trade at the latter.
Lica
The Portuguese featured just seven times after signing from Porto in a deal worth about £300,000 in 2016. Headed to Granada after his contract was cancelled, but struggled to do much better there - with two games under his belt.
Has moved around various clubs since then, playing for Belenenses and then Farense. Earlier this year, he joined amateur side ACDR Lamelas.
Nicolao Dumitru
Another signing who flopped under Philippe Montanier. For those who do remember him, it is perhaps because his Forest spell stands out for being so bad.
Made 12 appearances before returning to parent club Napoli in January 2017, and he has struggled to settle since. He has added Spanish teams Alcoron and Gimnastic, Italian side Livorno, Romanian outfits Metan Medias and UTA Arad, South Korea's Suwon Samsung Bluewings and, most recently, Bnei Sakhnin, in Israel, to the list of clubs he has played for.
Aaron Tshibola
Argued he wasn’t given a fair crack of the whip at the City Ground, because he was a loanee who joined a team fighting relegation. Signed on loan from Aston Villa in January 2017, but never really got the chance to show what he was about. Struggled to make an impact in a campaign where the Reds stayed up by the skin of their teeth.
Went on to have loans at MK Dons and Kilmarnock, before permanent moves to Waasland Beveren and Aves. Ended up back at Kilmarnock in 2020, but has continued to move around, going on to join Gençlerbirliği and AEL Limassol.
Federico Macheda
The Italian was tipped as the next big thing as a youngster. He is still best known for his memorable debut for Manchester United, when, aged 17, he came off the bench in a crucial game against Aston Villa and scored a superb goal.
However, he struggled to make much by way of an impact in the Garibaldi, featuring just three times while on loan from Cardiff City in 2016. He now plays for APOEL, on loan from Turkish outfit Ankaragucu, having also had stints at Novara and Panathinaikos after leaving the Bluebirds.
Mo Barrow
The attacker had caught the eye with a stunning Premier League debut for Swansea City against Arsenal in November 2014. He joined Forest on loan just a few months later, in the following March, but didn’t have the most productive of spells Trentside.
He managed just four appearances and notched one assist in a very short stay, going on to finish the campaign back at his parent club. After leaving the Swans he joined Reading, then went on to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, in South Korea. In January he put pen to paper for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli.
Kevin Gomis
Another loanee whose spell at the City Ground is probably best forgotten. The defender joined from Nice in January 2014, but is on the list of signings who managed a single appearance for the club.
His only run-out came as part of the starting XI in a 1-0 defeat at Barnsley. While he did complete the full 90 minutes, he also picked up a booking and failed to earn himself another chance. He went on to join Dundee, then signed for sixth-tier French side Grand Quevilly in 2018.
John Terry
The former England international makes the list for the brevity of his stay with the Reds - and because his City Ground loan can sometimes pop up as a quiz question. Best remembered for his time at Chelsea, his six-game spell with Forest sometimes gets forgotten by the wider football world.
It came early on his career, back in 2000, with his debut coming from off the bench in a 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic. When he did go back to Stamford Bridge, he went on to captain both club and country, lifting a fair bit of silverware along the way.
Which other forgettable former Forest players should be included on our list? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT:
